She is among the world’s billionaires, with a net worth of US$6billion on her start-up Canva. The half-Filipina techpreneur Melanie Perkins has not only achieved this status, but she is also one of just two women to make it to such heights. Based in Australia, Perkins has created a light and seamless tool to make visually appealing decks that focus on the best parts of a pitch: the idea. The best part is that anyone can use it. She has eliminated the need for a design background or degree, leaving storytellers in this modern content-creating age to communicate their message.

Just this year, Canva’s valuation rose to US$40billion after another round of funding infused US$200million worth of capital into it. With a dominant population working from home, Canva is even more essential today. In 2020, the valuation was at just US$3billion.

Despite these whopping figures, Perkins and her husband (also Canva co-founder) Cliff Obrecht don’t want to hoard their money. They are currently planning to create a foundation that focuses on alleviating the effects of climate change and global wealth inequality.

Obrecht and Perkins were engaged in Turkey with a US$30 ring. The power couple have known each other since they were young, with Obrecht supporting her first start-up Fusion Books.